258 candles-day 79

I've been wracking my brain trying to think of what I can say that will mean anything to anyone about the current dismal, distressing state of politics in this country. And I've come to realize this: There isn't anything I can say. But there is something I can do.

My solution, based on the Chinese proverb that it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness, is to provide daily candles in the form of links to other people's solutions, simple or complex responses to problems that they see. But as a single candle will hardly provide enough illumination to blot out the darkness that is the pettiness and meanness that characterizes this election cycle, I will light 258 candles, one each day between now and election day. In this way, I will do my part to remind each of us we are better than the baseness of the bases.

Today: A short film about a long run. 

to mask and unmask

I've spent the past couple days wondering why I'm so interested in this issue. I've written on it several times in the past but I've no clear connection to it: I'm not muslim, I'm not a woman, and I'm not even french.

it doesn't entirely strike me as an unfair law, one which puts greater emphasis on 1 segment of society than on others: society has a legitimate interest in people not concealing who they are in public (although it's notable that such things as motorcycle helmets and traditional masked costumes are exempt from the law). a few years ago marvel comics made exactly this argument the basis for their year-long civil war event and a part of what made that a good storyline was the reality that such laws would have just such an impact on the fantasy worlds of masked superheroes.

but it also strikes me that there is a more fundamental right involved, and that is the obverse to the traditional argument that "your rights end at my nose." my rights extend to my nose (literally in this case). I should be able to dress as I want--or to be undressed if I want--so long as I opt out of those activities where society has a legitimate stake in making my identity public (driver's licenses and id cards, for instance). this is less a libertarian stance and more anarchic: anarchy doesn't devolve other people's rights but raises an individual's right (while not harming others) until the individual becomes the state.

burqa update

france's senate has just passed its bill that will make wearing a full burqa a crime. in a world where people fear even things they can see such legislation is understandable but no less wrong. it is not my place, nor france's, to tell someone else what to wear or what not to wear. oddly, some places in france have also reserved the right to ban the traditional patristic right of bare chests. I say "oddly" because france is also renowned for its liberal view of public nudity. there is a schizophrenic mindset in france today: the state wants to tell people to cover up but not too much.

american women wearing the niqab

impressive article, well-researched and humanizing. I especially love the opening...

french burqa ban closer to law

this remains a bad idea. however many valid reasons a government might find for restricting the freedoms of individuals--and there are valid reasons, most involving identification--the practice remains unethical. states should not determine what individuals can't wear any more than what they must wear. once one state determines that for certain reasons its citizens must not wear something (like a burqa) it can't morally argue against another state determining that its citizens must wear something (like a burqa).

FRANCE'S BURQA BILL

out here on the rim, we don't see a whole lot of burqas. I've had a number of enburqa'd students in the Citites (although none of them have been veiled, but I've spoken with some in passing and admit it can be disconcerting--none of the cues we're used to) and it's not a very frightening sight. the fear of the unknown takes a lot of forms and for one to be afraid because one can't see all of someone else is understandable. but one's fear is no reason someone else ought to change her peaceful behavior.